Full Moon Swap - September 2007 (in progress)
Filtered from annaonthemoon since she's my partner this month.
I've been working on the "big ticket" item of the swap the last couple days: the cigar box purse. I have to tell you, it has proven MUCH harder than I thought it would be. In fact, now I'm regretting I didn't just buy one for her. *chuckles* I think I could have gotten one that's a lot nicer and more professionally done. Oh well. Hopefully, she'll appreciate the thought and the effort even if it's not perfect.
Here's the front. I added the handle of course and the tassels. I still need to get a latch since the one I bought doesn't work with the size of this purse. The latch is the last major detail I need to do.
In keeping with the "Florida" idea, the back has been decoupaged with shell paper. I also added gold metal corners which are hard to see in the picture but look cool. You can also see the handle I beaded and the tassels again in this picture.
Here's the inside. I got some fabric in the remnant section of Joann's and used the iron-fuse tape (same stuff I used on the altar cloth last month) to bind the edges. It was harder with this fabric since it's thicker. Then, despite my best efforts, it's slightly crooked. I don't have an easy way of measuring and squaring off fabric, so it was kinda luck of the cut. Anyway, then I hot glued it into place to line the box. I have a mirror to add on the inside cover as well but I'll add that last after I add the latch.
Turns out though that there's a ton I didn't know about making one. First off, you're apparently supposed to cut the lid off and re-attach it upside down with hinges. Because right now, when you stand the purse up, the front is actually upside down. Oops. Didn't find that out until after I'd glued the lining in. And there are probably WAY easier and better ways of lining it - most likely with the help of a sewing machine instead of iron seam tape - so it looks better but, well, I don't know them. And the wood slightly splintered on the inside when I drilled the holes for the handle and I was being really careful, so I'm not sure how you do it better or if it's going to be sturdy for actual usage.
Anyway, it's not bad all things considered, but it's definitely not as great or as well polished as I'd hoped for. Clearly, not every single project I attempt works out great on the first try. I really hope she still likes it though! It may not look like it but there's A LOT of time put into it.
I've been working on the "big ticket" item of the swap the last couple days: the cigar box purse. I have to tell you, it has proven MUCH harder than I thought it would be. In fact, now I'm regretting I didn't just buy one for her. *chuckles* I think I could have gotten one that's a lot nicer and more professionally done. Oh well. Hopefully, she'll appreciate the thought and the effort even if it's not perfect.
Here's the front. I added the handle of course and the tassels. I still need to get a latch since the one I bought doesn't work with the size of this purse. The latch is the last major detail I need to do.
In keeping with the "Florida" idea, the back has been decoupaged with shell paper. I also added gold metal corners which are hard to see in the picture but look cool. You can also see the handle I beaded and the tassels again in this picture.
Here's the inside. I got some fabric in the remnant section of Joann's and used the iron-fuse tape (same stuff I used on the altar cloth last month) to bind the edges. It was harder with this fabric since it's thicker. Then, despite my best efforts, it's slightly crooked. I don't have an easy way of measuring and squaring off fabric, so it was kinda luck of the cut. Anyway, then I hot glued it into place to line the box. I have a mirror to add on the inside cover as well but I'll add that last after I add the latch.
Turns out though that there's a ton I didn't know about making one. First off, you're apparently supposed to cut the lid off and re-attach it upside down with hinges. Because right now, when you stand the purse up, the front is actually upside down. Oops. Didn't find that out until after I'd glued the lining in. And there are probably WAY easier and better ways of lining it - most likely with the help of a sewing machine instead of iron seam tape - so it looks better but, well, I don't know them. And the wood slightly splintered on the inside when I drilled the holes for the handle and I was being really careful, so I'm not sure how you do it better or if it's going to be sturdy for actual usage.
Anyway, it's not bad all things considered, but it's definitely not as great or as well polished as I'd hoped for. Clearly, not every single project I attempt works out great on the first try. I really hope she still likes it though! It may not look like it but there's A LOT of time put into it.